A breakdown of the top free agent cornerbacks the Dolphins might target

I typically have a pretty good feel for what MIGHT happen, what's to come regarding the Miami Dolphins.

If you study hard enough, and connect the dots we're usually able to project what Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland is thinking, and might be leaning towards doing.

However, I've got to admit how the Dolphins will address the cornerback position this offseason is a complete mystery to me. A mystery that exceeds any other offseason question in any other year I've covered an Ireland led team because there are so many unknowns.

Here is what we do know about the Dolphins' cornerback forecast....

The Dolphins aren't willing to pay Sean Smith what he'll likely command on the free agent market as a upper echelon, durable press cornerback (he is). Every free agent has warts, otherwise they wouldn't become unrestricted free agents. Smith's warts are small compared to some of his counterparts, and he's one of the few cornerbacks big enough to matchup against the NFL's bigger alpha receivers.....

Between Richard Marshall and Dimitri Patterson the Dolphins already have $10.3 million tied into two cornerbacks. That's plenty cap space for two players who have been fringe NFL starters. Both are slot types, so that's beneficial. But are they solid NFL starters for the next two years?....

Defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle has a history of not only developing young cornerbacks, but repairing the careers of some aged or baggage carrying veterans. So he's clearly not afraid to work with projects....

Considering Nolan Carroll, who has been inconsistent as a part-time starter for two seasons, is entering the final year of his deal, and Jimmy Wilson will likely return to safety, the Dolphins need to get younger and cheaper at the position. The best way to do that is through the draft.....

Seeing as how a team needs five quality cornerbacks to make it through the season, the odds of Miami adding a veteran cornerback are high. Right now I expect the team to repeat what they did in the 2009 offseason, adding a veteran starter (Eric Green) and drafting two youngsters who can grow together (Smith and former first-round pick Vontae Davis).

Dolphins free agents: There’s a short list of bigger and more athletic press cornerbacks in the NFL than Smith, a four-year starter who has never missed an NFL game because of an injury. But there’s a long list of NFL cornerbacks who have been more consistent than Smith, who has registered just five interceptions and 40 pass deflections in his 56 games. Still, considering cornerbacks are one of the highest paid positions in the league, veteran starters usually make more than $5 million a season. The elite ones make nearly twice that. Bryan McCann, a restricted free agent, contributed 10 tackles and one sack in the eight games he played for the Dolphins, the fourth team he’s been part of in three years. He's still young, and should be viewed as a camp competitor.

Possible targets

CB Keenan Lewis – Lewis’ career took off in 2012, his first season as a starter. His physical style and consistent coverage helped him contribute 71 tackles and force one fumble for the Steelers. But this 26-year-old only has one career interception in his four seasons with Pittsburgh.

CB Derek Cox – Cox has started 45 games for the Jaguars, but he’s battled a number of injuries throughout his four-year career. When healthy he’s a ball hawk (12 interceptions) and a reliable tackler. But he isn’t healthy often, and those types of problems get worse as players age.

CB Chris Houston – Houston played on a mediocre Lions secondary, but his individual performance (56 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles) last season was respectable. ProFootballFocus.com rated Houston, a six-year veteran who turns 29 on October, as the NFL’s 22nd best cornerback in 2012.

CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie – Rodgers-Cromartie was one of the NFL’s most promising young cornerbacks in Arizona, but his career started flaming out once he got traded to Philadelphia. Last season he contributed 51 tackles, 17 deflections and three interceptions. But he also committed 11 penalties and allowed five touchdowns. And everyone in the Eagles secondary got picked on because of poor pass rushing.

CB Cary Williams – Former Chaminade-Madonna product Cary Williams had a good second season as a starter statistically for the Ravens, contributing 75 tackles, one sack and four interceptions. But he was picked on often by opposing quarterbacks, who completed 65.7 percent of their passes against him for 938 yards and six touchdowns.

CB E.J. Biggers – Biggers, a Miami native, had a breakout season in his first year as a full-time starter. He contributed 51 tackles, pulled down one interception, forced two fumbles and recorded one sack in the 13 games he played. ProFootballFocus.com rated him the 34th best cornerback in 2012.